I retired at 43. I never planned it but I planned for it if that makes sense. Then I got bored and bought a business. Then I was still bored and started working Mondays and Tuesdays. I’m still bored. But I don’t have enough time. Makes no sense.

Is your dancing career still working out for you?

I’m still breathing so I’m still working! But on Medicare now.

Law Dog, I think the "Not for Profit" health care systems will get a reality check from the federal government in how they spend their money so premiums won't rise as fast, if for nothing else because they aren't corporations and aren't traded on Wall Street so investors can make money off of them.

Just take a look at one of our South Dakota health care "royalty" and what they have gotten away with so far over the past 40 years. I'm pretty sure "S" still operates under a charter, or at least started that way, from the City of Sioux Falls so its run by a non-public, no share holder board of directors. They already had started expanding when I started working there in 1989 (my wife in 1986) but that greatly accelerated when carpetbagger Kelby showed up from further south and then got tied into old Uncle D. They "bought" up the largest North Dakota system but got whacked by Minnesota state government when they wanted to buy one of the Twin Cities hospitals.

Kelby burned through hundreds of millions of old (now decrepit) D's money expanding and building but then "retired" from the system with something of a 8 figure amount. The old S system lay rather quiet for a while but then last year acquired a couple dozen store for profit drug store chain when the G family (the 3rd or 4th generation) no longer wanted to do that work. There's no law that says that a "not for profit" health care system can't have any "for profit" divisions but at some point the facade of it not being a corporation or a truly privately owned company that supposely pays corporate taxes will wear thin with the federal government. Or so I hope.

P.S. I left Kelby land for good in 2002 but had only been working there non-scheduled part time after I got another full time job in 2000.

This is what I’m worried will happen to me. My wife and I have saved and invested from the start and we’re in a very good financial situation. I just think no work would get old fast. My wife and I have always been the ‘business leaders’ for our employers. We’re both ready for a change and I’m looking into business ventures but curious about how health insurance works when you are self employed with a family.

snowy,
to your comment about 1 million in the bank to retire. That's the claim by whoever. It all depends on your life style and ability to keep to a reasonable budget.

I planned on working 'til 70. At 67 1/2 I couldn't take the mismanagement. Calculated the $$ I had total, divided by the number I figured would be real high to live my life and left work.

I have worked side jobs until last year at 73-74, birthday is in Aug. That income was enough to pay taxes and mortgage. Yes, I will have a mortgage until 92 or die, whichever comes first.

At this point in time, I have about 90-100K more in savings/investments than when I retired, and its way short of 1 million, but plenty for me to live on.

I would say, don't believe you need 1 million to retire.

I would guess it would have a lot to do with what part of the country you’d retire in. East Coast & West Coast are not the Midwest. I’ve been retired since the last day of 1998 but had a welding consulting business for 2-3 years. What was key for the wife & I to retire was that we needed to maintain our standard of living and still build our portfolios. Nothing in our lives changed, we just didn’t go to work anymore!

Lots to think about when you are close to retirement....more stressful than I thought it would be. Im thinking its just the element of the unknown as Ive never been 'retired' before....